This one red-winged blackbird at Cameron Prairie nature reserve, Louisiana, deigned to sit still long enough for me to take a photo. I had several tries – there were so many red-wings about, flitting and darting around in the still winter-dormant reeds. There must have been at least 24 birds, probably more. The effect of this was that I found myself quietly humming the nursery rhyme tune of “Sing a Song of Sixpence”.

Following the Pintail Trail at Cameron Prairie, we saw many, many Snowgeese, and what a delight they were to watch, especially as this was our first sighting of these birds. Then there were a few Killdeer tucked away in the grassy area near the water, which was also thronged with red-winged blackbirds. Green and white ibis were about, and a small gang of terns, the exact sort of which I’ve yet to decide upon (out comes the bird book again).

Casually wandering across the boardwalk in the near distance was a ‘gator which husband failed to notice as he strode towards it, eyes looking upwards at birds.

“Ummm…” I said, “just look where you’re going!”